Governor Ramen Deka has been approached by BJP leader Gauri Shanker Shrivas seeking an inquiry into the functioning of the Chhattisgarh Public Service Commission after the High Court set aside the selection of a candidate for the post of Boiler Inspector on grounds of age ineligibility. The development follows the High Court’s order dated 17th February, 2026 in WPS No. 6748 of 2025, wherein the petition filed by Saket Agrawal was allowed and the selection of Kanan Verma was quashed.

 

The petitioner had been placed at Serial No. 1 in the waiting list. The recruitment process originated from an advertisement dated 23rd October, 2024 issued for the post of Boiler Inspector in the Department of Commerce and Industries. The eligibility criteria fixed the maximum age at 30 years, extendable to 35 years for residents of Chhattisgarh. Clause 4(ii) of the advertisement provided age relaxation up to 38 years for employees of departments, boards or corporations of the State of Chhattisgarh. Court records indicate that the selected candidate was 36 years, 2 months and 29 days old on the cut-off date.

 

The Commission had extended age relaxation by invoking the clause applicable to State corporation employees. However, the High Court held that the organisation cited did not qualify as a State board or corporation under the 2013 Recruitment Rules and the terms of the advertisement. The extension of age relaxation was therefore found legally unsustainable. The Court further examined the plea that the candidate was entitled to relaxation as an “educated unemployed youth.” Referring to the candidate’s own disclosure of employment as Executive-

 

A in a Power Plant Operation Department and income details reflecting annual earnings exceeding Rs 13 lakh, the Court concluded that he could not be categorised as unemployed within the meaning and intent of the advertisement. The High Court directed the Public Service Commission to issue a fresh select list based on the concluded recruitment process within one month, noting that the petitioner stands first in the waiting list. In his representation to the Governor, Shrivas cited the HC’s findings and sought removal of three PSC members appointed during the previous Congress government, alleging procedural lapses and seeking a detailed inquiry.